Sama Shabir Shah, a daughter of incarcerated separatist leader, Shabir Ahmad Shah, has topped the CBSE Class 12 examinations in the Jammu and Kashmir state which were declared on Saturday. Sama, who is a student of Delhi Public School (DPS) in Srinagar, scored 97.8 per cent marks in the examination. Sama's father Shabir Ahmad Shah, is lodged in Delhi's Tihar Jail in a connection with a terror funding case.

Jammu Kashmir's Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) leader, Shabir Shah was held by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on July 26, 2017, in a terror funding case.

J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti congratulated the 19-year-old student and called her an “inspiration” for the youth in the state.

“Congratulations to Sama Shabir for securing 97.8% marks in the class 12 examinations. Her hard work & determination has helped her overcome all odds and she is truly an inspiration for the youth of our state,” the chief minister tweeted.

Congratulations to Sama Shabir Shah for securing 97.8% marks in the class 12th class examination. Her hard work & determination has helped her overcome all odds & she is truly an inspiration for the youth of our state.

Attributing her success to the “guidance” from her jailed father, Sama told The Sunday Express: “I attribute it to my father only for being a source of inspiration, for being an idol for me. And my mother, for being a source of strength for me. She has given us the strength that I have today and because of her, I was able to study. I was not in a depression because of my mother, because she was herself so strong.”

“At a time when the whole of India knows about it (my result), my father doesn’t know anything about it… (when) he should have been the first to know of it,” she said.

“I am very proud of my father. He has spent 31 years in prison. So this one year wouldn’t have affected my studies,” she said, adding that she had to top the exam to make her father proud.

“It was tough to stabilise. But I thought if it affects me, it would be bad for him. I took it as a positive point. I am a proud daughter and I would be making him proud even if he is in Tihar (jail).”

PWD minister Naeem Akhtar also took to Twitter to congratulate Sama.

“Truly inspiring for all our children. Education, excellence is the answer to our woes of disempowerment. Congrats,” Akhtar posted.